Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-19
JUDGE LYNCH.

OU0c11ly nSdlly All the udgS OF tae Stale a
a the federal courts, l had never made
acquaintance of that perambulating tribuI
presided over by Justice Lynch until l we
20 reside for a few months in a neighbour
state, where rumor has it that Judge Lyn
made his debut
The meeting came about this way. The
had been q long and expensive Judicial seas
1t Z; and Mallory Jock, the criminal Ia,
yer, had saved another victim from 4
sword Of justice. The name of the sim
who was snatchei from the hands of Il
hangman was Black Bill BID was e1cee
tngiy handy with his pistol. and on this ooc
sion had shot and killed the conductor Of
street car because be persisted in trying
collect the car fare. As 10th lawyer and q
ent were notorious. the trial brought Il
whole population to the court house to vi
ness the illegal contest. and. as usual. the h
came out victorious. Bill had mistaken Il
conductors ticke, punch for a pistol. the of
Gal for q robher, and had shot the latter i
elfdefense: besides forcing the judge
charge that If the defendant really miStoo
the bell punch for a pistol. pointed in a rnsr
acng and dangerous Hanner. they ~er
bound, in fact, to treat il as trough it was
veritable revolver, with IS CT Der sbo. in il
and not an innocent recording bell punch.
OF coure Bill was acquitted. and he wake.
down Main street. the admired center of al
Ea1eA This was the farce. The truged,
came about in this way.
As may he anticipated, Bill Was very mucl
elAte1 over bis escase, especially as 1t hap
pened to be his third trial for murder and b.
was rather supertitious about the figur,
three. He celebrated it in a roaring spree
which lasted a week and kept that part of tn
tow in an uproar. There was drinking. sing
ing and fighting in harmonious and constant
succession. as though Bill was going TO intro
duce the famous Bacchic reyels and life wa
to be IN orgy of drinking and tsticuf. II
was about the third day of the feast when the
barkeeper, in a thoughtful moment. demanded
payment Of the score, in default Of which bs
proposed to tumble the gang into the
street
expense to the state Of q thousand dollars.
VA naturally indignant. and in the absence
Of bis pistol be knocked the thoughtful bar
keeper down with q beer glass Then the
Eight commenced between the proprietor and
his men and Bill and the gang, and the
battle ragged and surged from the tar room
to the kitchen. and from the kitchen to the
street, each new conner lending a band or q
stone. Finally the town marshal amt rush
ing into the crowd. and knocked the Draw
iD with his club right and left and unfor-
tunately Bill among the rest The latter
Neaked quietly across the street came
back with a shotgun, poured the contents Of
both barrels into the back Of the fighting
marshal and killed him On the spot This
was the climax The branl ceased as sudden
~ Is i. lad arisen-the fighters SUNK back
from Bill in disgust, and even be turned bis
hloodshos eyes anxiously down at the nov
quiet marshal Then be placed the gun In a
corner. and some one whispered Git" and
be walked out into the street and after a mo-
msnts pause skunk rapidly away under the
shadows Of the houses and the trees
BE bad not walked q dozen squares before
be perceived that there was something the
matter with either the people or the town.
Men ran ahead Of him, others followed and
logged his footsteps, and doors were banged
q be passed. Hark, the fire bell was ring
ing, and the whistle Of the fe-ryboat avoks
the echoes on the river. The stream Of lights
In the distance was not made up Of fire flies.
bat Of men and boys carrying lanterns. and
armed with clubs and shotguns. He tried
several doors on the way, well known places
Of refuge, but they were closed, and no CLINT
Of light from the Windows
Then came the tramp, tramp Of marching
men, and in darting around the corner b.
found himself instantly surrounded with a
mob, who ordered him brutally to stand and
bold up his hands! Bill smiled as be recog-
nized the voice, and lazily complied with the
order; then be scanned the crowd eagerly, |
but they were masked, and the only plain,
u~nmistakable thing was the revolver, which
cleaned at him from all directions. Tho
in his red shirt, sIouched hat, panta-
stuffed in his boots, and nde his arm
long, black barreled rife, stood eylng him
silence.
Hello, Long JIM" said Bill. animated
With q sudden CLEAN Of hope. you'll give a
q chance for his life, won't you. Jimr
@What!" replied the leader, contemp,uous-
Il don't know yer. This amt no rabbit
party-this is Judge Lynch, There
ms been killing enough in this town -ther-U
- another, and then the thing will stop.
Fold your arms-right about face. march,"
Yes, this was Judge Lynch-court, jury aud
s1ecutioner, all in one.
When the itinerant court passed my door
vas smoking an evening cigar. and having
the alarm bell, was searching the bori-
N for the sign Of fire. which nowhere could
Y SEEN The moon was out. and but for the
lying procession Of clouds that continually
Guided in front, the town Of x was fairly lit
p with the white, silent light. was still
rendering If the clouds meant rain or snow.
'hen the odd and fantastic Judicial process
ion marched silently by. No funeral nartv
'as graver, made less noise or marched with
bore decorum. There was only one excep ,
ion to the general good behavior. aud that
'as the impression Of the b~ystanderS Every
ooker on was Immediately pressed into the
rowd- Not one was allowed to look and de-
art, but he was forced to assist in the cere. !
,ony. I was in the doorway when a fellow, {
draped and disguised. laid bold
pom me, and pointing with bis revolver to ,
10 mob, told me to fall in" 4
why, certainly" and I marched with the |
{
As there was very little talking there was I
opportunity for reflection. and yet &
robably the only one who was doing anv
thinking was the victim Bill. As he 5
lrned his bead from right to left. vainlv >
arching for some sign of succor. 6
For myself. l no sooner guessed the object n
or rather purpose-of the judicial train q
an my curiosity OVERRIDE and silenced all o
gal scruples to the enterprise. Besides. Il
nsoled myself with the thought that as all I!
great jurists and statesmen had found no 81
gber source Of authority than the people. u
ID that everything came from and Was for e.
E benefit OF the people. surely an ilnpromptu D
Ibunal OF the people Ike Judge Lynch was u
yond impeachment On we went. from
Get to street and pike TO pike. the crowd IN
gaining in size AMI the hope Of a 9
cue consequently diminishing. As the p
ger people outianked Bill on either side. be
uld not help noticing the difference be- Il
cen the sullen and scornful glance Of these a
MS eyes. TO the pleasant. watery eyed. be- m
VIOLENT looks Of his friends. the late jury; l.
tears, no smiles over the pathos or humor &C
counsel here: only anger, dark and vicious a
the ocean at night
Once or twice Bill would side up to the Il
u, gaunt leader. and whisper. as he tried to \
bis eye, a sobbing appeal for a chance X
i've . fellow q chance for bus life, wont II
uF This was the constant and the only ID
peal, and the reply was equally short and =.
Shut ups ard DO your pray.
3 and make it brief!- G.,
We passed the house Of Judge Beans. but
: please everybody face Of Justice WiggIe- =,
lEyle- as be was called waS mt IN Re scan :